Tall person backpacking tents for 2: Dipole 2, Lunar Duo, X-Mid 2+

[@fordm21]

I'm 6'5" and also have the lunar duo. I love that tent. It's the only tent that I don't hit my head or feet against the walls. I've been searching for a lighter 1 person option, and the dipole 1 is on my short list. It's difficult looking at specs online and trying to visualize the actual usable length. Thank you so much for this video

[@MostlyTenkara]

Cheers!

[@paulmphoto]

WOW love the topic of the video! I'm tall and have felt the pain of sleeping with head and feet touching the tent walls.

[@durstongear]

Nice job putting this together. FWIW, at 6:05 it looks like you have the X-Mid Pro 2+ pitched as low as possible to the ground (e.g the fly edge is almost touching the ground). That is good in high winds to minimize drafts, but a higher pitch would increase the headroom and available length inside. The height of the pitch will vary depending on how long the cords at the corners (because the corner cords act like an extension of the fly) but usually there is a gap of about 4" around the bottom edge of the tent and there can be up to about 6" (whereas the pitch here looks like about 1"). If you did pitch it at more typical (4") or tall (6") edge gap, then the height at the corners would be improved by 3-5" which would make more viable to sleep on the longer diagonal. With a higher pitch we do have quite a few happy users around 6'6" but certainly the Dipole is a larger tent yet.

[@MostlyTenkara]

Thanks Dan, for putting this explanation here for others to see--and yes, if it had not been for the high winds, I would have pitched the tent higher up to allow for more interior space. I pitched it low and tight, and I still had sand and dust blowing through the tent all night. In fair weather, I do think I would juuuust fit comfortably, without wind compressing the walls and a higher pitch. Thanks for posting here, and thanks for designing and making incredible gear! I'll be interested to see how the X-Dome 2 is for tall people!

[@nmjmsmpm]

Thanks for putting this out there on behalf of tall folk.👍 As someone who is a bit taller than you, the 'just pitch it higher' comments are frustrating as you want to fit in all weather conditions you will expect. An extra 6 inches or so in the length would make this perfect.

[@MostlyTenkara]

​@@nmjmsmpm Exactly, cheers!

[@DanielLawrence-x5y]

6'4", have the xmid 2 which is ok for just me but claustrophobic on the face with a partner - xmid dome 1 on the way for my partner and here's hoping the dome 2 is a smidge longer!

[@DanielLawrence-x5y]

Also had and sold the lightheart solong duo because it could not pitch low at all, and had an awful sandy night in a windy night at Capitol Reef! I want something I can pitch low AND fit in, please!

[@Eric-ul6qw]

Thanks for the follow up video regarding the Dipole. I enjoyed the side-by-side comparison. You are the tallest person I have seen in a review of the Lunar Duo. That was very helpful to me. I'm 6'5" and looking for suitable light weight tent. Thanks again from Oregon.

[@MostlyTenkara]

@@Eric-ul6qw cheers, so glad it helped!

[@lowrights33]

Great review, I have a Dipole 1 DW and have the same thoughts as you regarding the tent performance, you might consider this as your winter tent as a solid inner is available. Very cost effective as well.

[@sanfransimo]

That thing really maximizes the volume. I don't know if you can call Tarptent underrated, but it feels like their designs don't get the notoriety they deserve. The little windows are clutch, though I do wonder about their susceptibility to high winds. Most times is wouldn't matter though, and even then most directions would likely not matter. Will keep an eye out for updates.

[@anninwhack1998]

This is so helpful bc I have been agonizing over the Dipole 2DW or the Double Rainbow DW. I want a tent mostly for me but also able for me and my daughter or my husband if I am ever able to get them to come w me. I only want the silpoly bc I would only be going out a few times a year and don’t think that it’s worth the extra expense to get dyneema in either. My issue is solely a form factor. Easier pitch w rainbow or more functional space w dipole. You are the only tall person that gives good advice about both these tents. I am 6’ and hubby is 6-3. Thx for feedback.

[@MostlyTenkara]

@@anninwhack1998 Great! So glad you found this informative. Here are some additional thoughts, having owned the Double Rainbow. I sold it because it was simply impossible for two people to be sitting up in the tent at the same time. Also, I don’t think the rainbow pitch is any easier than the dipole. The one advantage the Rainbow does have is that it’s quasi freestanding, so you don’t need as secure stake points to really get a secure pitch, especially in the wind. The dipole seems to have a lot of tension on the stakes, which is why they include longer 8” ones. So if there’s high winds, you may have to spend an extra amount of time to create a secure pitch. But the interior livable space and that window are just incredible on the Dipole, and I would choose the dipole over the double rainbow any day of the week.

[@AwkwardQuokka]

Fantastic review! I need you to review the X-Dome 1+ now, lol

[@MostlyTenkara]

@@AwkwardQuokka happy to! My friend is receiving it when it ships. I’ll borrow it and do a video on it for you!

[@AwkwardQuokka]

@@MostlyTenkara awesome!!!

[@nate-beard]

thank you so much for making this video. I'm 6'6'' as well. Been looking at this and the double rainbow. Do you think this is bigger than the double rainbow (as far as length goes) ?

[@MostlyTenkara]

About the same in terms of length. The Double Rainbow is great for one person, although it does lack the cool window feature!

[@nate-beard]

@@MostlyTenkara yeah, I like the Dipole more in every way except I like to camp on sand/beach sometimes and I think it would be really hard to rig the dipole in that configuration. agree?

[@MostlyTenkara]

@@nate-beard I would agree, sand could be really tough, especially if there were no big rocks around to use as anchors. In sand you'd really want a fully freestanding tent, I would think.

[@_Chris390]

I bought a Dipole 2 DW recently, brand new direct from Tarptent. Arrived with bad stitching at the Velcro on the door vents, with the Velcro hanging off, 80% unstitched along the edges. Tarptent wouldn’t agree to refund my shipping costs for sending it back. Super bad customer service. No fault of mine. They just didn’t want to take responsibility for not bothering to check their products before they send them. And a really petulant and dismissive manner of speaking via email. Nice products but terrible attitude. I’d read about Henry’s moody strops but didn’t expect to have to deal with one myself 🍼👶

[@imager993]

Sucks being vertically challenged. 😀